BJP's search for Hoshiarpur LS nominee seems a one-horse race

Even as the state wing of the BJP chalks out its plan to select nominees for the three Parliamentary seats in Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Amritsar, indications are that for the Hoshiarpur (reserved for SC) seat, chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) local government and Phagwara MLA, Som Parkash, could be a front-runner for a party ticket.

Even as the state wing of the BJP chalks out its plan to select nominees for the three Parliamentary seats in Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Amritsar, indications are that for the Hoshiarpur (reserved for SC) seat, chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) local government and Phagwara MLA, Som Parkash, could be a front-runner for a party ticket.

From February 8-16, state party chief Kamal Sharma and organisation secretary Ajay Jambal will move in all the 29 assembly seats in the three parliamentary constituencies.

In Hoshiarpur, where the party reportedly has very few choices, Parkash, a bureaucrat-turned politician, has also been made aware that he could get the Lok Sabha seat, sources in the party said.

The party also reportedly has the choice of fielding singer Miss Pooja, who joined the party in December. However, a section of the media has quoted the singer as saying that she was not interested in contesting. State forest development corporation vice-chairman Vijay Sampla is also eyeing a ticket, but present internal equations in the state wing seem to be working against him.

In 2009, Parkash contested from Hoshiarpur and lost by 366 votes to the now union minister of state for family welfare and health Santosh Chowdhary.

BJP president Kamal Sharma, who was in town on Sunday to attend a personal function, said: "We are not short of candidates. The Modi wave is visible. Ultimately, the party high command will take a decision on our nominees."

On Som Parkash's chances, Sharma said he was an intelligent and popular face of the party in Doaba and the party will benefit, if he contests.

Sources close to the CPS said that Parkash has been reluctant to contest, but after deliberations with state affairs incharge Shanta Kumar last week and a few senior state leaders, the CPS has agreed on contest on 'certain conditions', like replacing the MLA candidate from Phagwara of his own choosing, if he wins the Hoshiarpur MP seat.

When contacted, Parkash said: "I will contest any poll I am asked to by my party. There is no question of conditions. I will be happy to serve the state's citizens from anywhere."